Posted on 10/09/2011 8:49:50 PM PDT by Salvation
I spent two hours in the doctor’s office to find out I have plantar faciitis AND a bone spur. No wonder it’s been to painful to walk.
Pleas pray that I have the patience and will to bear this pain graciously.
A few years ago I suffered from plantar faciitis. I put my feet up whenever possible, used ibuprofen, massaged my feet, applied heat, and got some nice thick gel insoles. After a while it went away. Now bone spurs, I think they grind those done.
Oct 10, Invitatory for Monday of the 28th week of Ordinary Time
Lord, open my lips.
– And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. Come, let us sing joyful songs to the Lord.
Psalm 24
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the waters he made it firm.
Ant.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things,
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.
Ant.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Ant.
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant.
Who is the king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant.
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant.
Who is he, the king of glory?
He, the Lord of armies,
he is the king of glory.
Ant.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Come, let us sing joyful songs to the Lord.
Oct 10, Office of Readings for Monday of the 28th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 615
Proper of Seasons: 376
Psalter: Monday, Week IV, 1107
Christian Prayer:
Does not contain Office of Readings.
Office of Readings for Monday in Ordinary Time
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Sing praise to God who reigns above,
The God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love,
The God of our salvation;
With healing balm my soul he fills,
And every faithless murmur stills:
To God all praise and glory.
What God’s almighty power hath made,
His gracious mercy keepeth;
By morning glow or evening shade
His watchful eye never sleepeth;
Within the kingdom of his might,
Lo! all is just and all is right:
To God all praise and glory.
Then all my gladsome way along,
I sing aloud thy praises,
That men may hear the grateful song
My voice unwearied raises;
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart,
Both soul and body, bear your part:
To God all praise and glory.
O ye who name Christ’s holy name,
Give God all praise and glory;
All ye who own this power, proclaim
Aloud the wondrous story!
Cast each false idol from this throne.
The Lord is God, and he alone:
To God all praise and glory.
“Sing praise to God who reigns above” by: The Choir of King’s School; Melody: Mit Freuden Zart 87.87.887; Music: Bohemian Brethren’s Hymnbook, 1566; Text: Johan J. Schutz, 1640-1690; Translator: Frances E. Cox, 1812-1897
“Sing praise to God who reigns above” performed by The Choir of King’s School is available from Amazon.com
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 How good is the God of Israel to the pure of heart!
Psalm 73
Why is it that the good have many troubles?
Blessed is the man who does not lose faith in me (Matthew 11:6).
I
How good God is to Israel,
to those who are pure of heart.
Yet my feet came close to stumbling,
my steps had almost slipped
for I was filled with envy of the proud
when I saw how the wicked prosper.
For them there are no pains;
their bodies are sound and sleek.
They have no share in men’s sorrows;
they are not stricken like others.
So they wear their pride like a necklace,
they clothe themselves with violence.
Their hearts overflow with malice,
their minds seethe with plots.
They scoff; they speak with malice;
from on high they plan oppression.
They have set their mouths in the heavens
and their tongues dictate to the earth.
So the people turn to follow them
and drink in all their words.
They say: How can God know?
Does the Most High take any notice?”
Look at them, such are the wicked,
but untroubled, they grow in wealth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. How good is the God of Israel to the pure of heart!
Ant. 2 Their laughter will turn to weeping, their merriment to grief.
II
How useless to keep my heart pure
and wash my hands in innocence,
when I was stricken all day long,
suffered punishment day after day.
Then I said: “If I should speak like that,
I should abandon the faith of your people.”
I strove to fathom this problem,
too hard for my mind to understand,
until I pierced the mysteries of God
and understood what becomes of the wicked.
How slippery the paths on which you set them;
you make them slide to destruction.
How suddenly they come to their ruin,
wiped out, destroyed by terrors.
Like a dream one wakes from, O Lord,
when you wake you dismiss them as phantoms.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Their laughter will turn to weeping, their merriment to grief.
Ant. 3 Those who depart from you will perish; my joy is to remain with you, my God.
III
And so when my heart grew embittered
and when I was cut to the quick,
I was stupid and did not understand,
no better than a beast in your sight.
Yet I was always in your presence;
you were holding me by my right hand.
You will guide me by your counsel
and so you will lead me to glory.
What else have I in heaven but you?
Apart from you I want nothing on earth.
My body and my heart faint for joy;
God is my possession for ever.
All those who abandon you shall perish;
you will destroy all those who are faithless.
To be near God is my happiness.
I have made the Lord God my refuge.
I will tell of all your works
at the gates of the city of Zion.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
It is good to be with you, Father; in you is fullness of life for your faithful people; in you all hope resides. May you lead us to everlasting happiness.
Ant. Those who depart from you will perish; my joy is to remain with you, my God.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
To savor your words is my delight, O Lord,
– Honey itself is not sweeter.
READINGS
First reading
From the book of the prophet Haggai
2:11-24
Future blessings. A promise to Zerubbabel
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai:
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests for a decision: If a man carries sanctified flesh in the fold of his garment and the fold touches bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any other food, do they become sanctified? “No,” the priests answered.
Then Haggai said: If a person unclean from contact with a corpse touches any of these, do they become unclean? The priests answered, “They become unclean.” Then Haggai continued:
So is this people, and so is this nation
in my sight, says the Lord:
And so are all the works of their hands;
and what they offer there is unclean.
But now, consider from this day forward. Before there was a stone laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord, how did you fare?
When one went to a heap of grain for twenty measures,
it would yield but ten;
When another went to the vat to draw fifty measures,
there would be but twenty.
I struck you in all the works of your hands
with blight, searing wind, and hail,
yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.
[Consider from this day forward: from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. From the day on which the temple of the Lord was founded, consider!]
Indeed, the seed has not sprouted,
nor have the vine, the fig, the pomegranate
and the olive tree yet borne.
From this day, I will bless!
The message of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month: Tell this to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah:
I will shake the heavens and the earth;
I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms,
destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations.
I will overthrow the chariots and their riders,
and the riders with their horses
shall go down by one another’s sword.
On that day, says the Lord of hosts,
I will take you, Zerubbabel,
son of Shealtiel, my servant, says the Lord,
And I will set you as a signet ring;
for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts.
RESPONSORY Haggai 2:6, 7, 9
I will shake the heavens and the earth,
– and the treasures of all the nations will come in.
The glory of this house will be great;
I will give peace in this place.
– And the treasures of all the nations will come in.
Second reading
From a treatise against Fabianus by Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe, bishop
We are made holy by our sharing in Christ’s body and blood
In our offering of the holy sacrifice we fulfill the command of our Savior, as recorded by the apostle Paul: The Lord Jesus, on the night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it and said: This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. The same way, after the supper, he took the cup saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you shall proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
This sacrifice is offered, then, to proclaim the Lord’s death; it is offered in remembrance of him who laid down his life for our sake. As he says: Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends. Because Christ died for us out of love, we ask, when we make remembrance of his death at the time of sacrifice, that we too may be granted love through the coming of the Holy Spirit. We pray that by the love which Christ had for us when he braved the cross, we may receive the grace of the Spirit and be crucified to the world, and the world to us. The death Christ died, he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. Let us imitate our Lord’s death, and also live a new life. Strengthened with the gift of his love, let us die to sin and live for God.
For God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Indeed our sharing in the Lord’s body and blood when we eat his bread and drink his cup teaches us that we should die to the world, and that we should keep our life hidden with Christ in God, crucifying our flesh with its vices and evil desires.
That is why all the faithful who love God and their neighbor truly drink the cup of the Lord’s love even though they may not drink the cup of his bodily suffering. And becoming inebriated from it, they put to death whatever in their nature is rooted in earth. They clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not indulge fleshly desires. They do not fix their gaze on visible things, but contemplate things which the eye cannot see. Thus they drink the Lord’s cup by preserving the holy bond of love; without it, even if a man should deliver his body to be burned, he gains nothing. But the gift of love enables us to become in reality what we celebrate as mystery in the sacrifice.
RESPONSORY Luke 22:19; John 6:59
Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke the bread.
Then he gave it to his disciples and said:
– This is my body which is given up for you.
Do this in memory of me.
This is the bread come down from heaven;
anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.
– This is my body which is given up for you.
Do this in memory of me.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord,
our help and guide,
make your love the foundation of our lives.
May our love for you express itself
in our eagerness to do good for others.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community)
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
Oct 10, Morning Prayer for Monday of the 28th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: 689
All from the Psalter: 1147
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 618
All from the Psalter: 1111
Christian Prayer (single volume)
Ordinary: 689
All from the Psalter: 937
Morning Prayer for Monday in Ordinary Time
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
He formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where e’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.
There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes thy glories known;
And clouds arise and tempests blow, by order from thy throne;
While all that borrows life from thee is ever in thy care,
And everywhere that man can be, thou, God, art present there.
“I Sing The Mighty Power” by Steven Anderson; Words: Isaac Watts, Divine and Moral Songs for Children, 1715. Music: Forest Green, traditional English melody, arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Click here to purchase this hymn.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Each morning, Lord, you fill us with your kindness.
Psalm 90
May we live in the radiance of God
There is no time with God: a thousand years, a single day, it is all one (2 Peter 3:8).
O Lord, you have been our refuge
from one generation to the next.
Before the mountains were born
or the earth or the world brought forth,
you are God, without beginning or end.
You turn men back to dust
and say: “Go back, sons of men.”
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
no more than a watch in the night.
You sweep men away like a dream,
like grass which springs up in the morning.
In the morning it springs up and flowers:
by evening it withers and fades.
So we are destroyed in your anger,
struck with terror in your fury.
Our guilt lies open before you;
our secrets in the light of your face.
All our days pass away in your anger.
Our life is over like a sigh.
Our span is seventy years
or eighty for those who are strong.
And most of these are emptiness and pain.
They pass swiftly and we are gone.
Who understands the power of your anger
and fears the strength of your fury?
Make us know the shortness of our life
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever?
Show pity to your servants.
In the morning, fill us with your love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Give us joy to balance our affliction
for the years when we knew misfortune.
Show forth your work to your servants;
let your glory shine on their children.
Let the favor of the Lord be upon us:
give success to the work of our hands,
give success to the work of our hands.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Lord, send your mercy and your truth to rescue us from the snares of the devil, and, happy to be known as companions of your Son, we will praise you among the peoples and proclaim you to the nations.
Ant. Each morning, Lord, you fill us with your kindness.
Ant. 2 From the farthest bounds of earth, may God be praised!
Canticle – Isaiah 42:10-16
God victor and savior
They were singing a new hymn before the throne of God (Revelation 14:3)..
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the end of the earth:
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the coastlands, and those who dwell in them.
Let the steppe and its cities cry out,
the villages where Kedar dwells;
Let the inhabitants of Sela exult,
and shout from the top of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the Lord,
and utter his praise in the coastlands.
The Lord goes forth like a hero,
like a warrior he stirs up his ardor;
he shouts out his battle cry,
against his enemies he shows his might:
I have looked away, and kept silence,
I have said nothing, holding myself in;
but now, I cry out as a woman in labor,
gasping and panting.
I will lay waste mountains and hills,
all their herbage I will dry up;
I will turn the rivers into marshes,
and the marshes I will dry up.
I will lead the blind on their journey;
by paths unknown I will guide them.
I will turn darkness into light before them,
and make crooked ways straight.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. From the farthest bounds of earth, may God be praised!
Ant. 3 You who stand in his sanctuary, praise the name of the Lord.
Psalm 135
Praise for the wonderful things God does for us
He has won you for himself… and you must proclaim what he has done for you: he has called you out of darkness into his own wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
Praise the name of the Lord,
praise him, servants of the Lord,
who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord for the Lord is good.
Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself
and Israel for his own possession.
For I know the Lord is great,
that our Lord is high above all gods.
The Lord does whatever he wills,
in heaven, on earth, in the seas.
He summons clouds from the ends of the earth;
makes lightning produce the rain;
from his treasuries he sends forth the wind.
The first-born of the Egyptians he smote,
of man and beast alike.
Signs and wonders he worked
in the midst of your land, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
Nations in their greatness he struck
and kings in their splendor he slew.
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
Og, the king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
He let Israel inherit their land;
on his people their land he bestowed.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Where two or three gather in your name, Lord, you promised to be with them and share their fellowship. Look down upon your family gathered here in your name, and graciously pour out your blessing upon us.
Ant. You who stand in his sanctuary, praise the name of the Lord.
READING Judith 8:25-27
We should be grateful to the Lord our God, for putting us to the test, as he did our forefathers. Recall how he dealt with Abraham, and how he tried Isaac, and all that happened to Jacob in Syrian Mesopotamia while he was tending the flocks of Laban, his mother’s brother. Not for vengeance did the Lord put them in the crucible to try their hearts, nor has he done so with us. It is by way of admonition that he chastises those who are close to him.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
RESPONSORY
Sing for joy, God’s chosen ones, give him the praise that is due.
– Sing for joy, God’s chosen ones, give him the praise that is due.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
– give him the praise that is due.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– Sing for joy, God’s chosen ones, give him the praise that is due.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Ant. Blessed be the Lord, for he has come to his people and set them free.
Luke 1:68 – 79
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Blessed be the Lord, for he has come to his people and set them free.
INTERCESSIONS
Because Christ hears and saves those who hope in him, let us pray:
– We praise you, Lord, we hope in you.
We thank you because you are rich in mercy,
and for the abundant love with which you have loved us.
– We praise you, Lord, we hope in you.
With the Father you are always at work in the world,
make all things new through the power of your Holy Spirit.
– We praise you, Lord, we hope in you.
Open our eyes and the eyes of our brothers,
to see your wonders this day.
– We praise you, Lord, we hope in you.
You call us today to your service,
make us stewards of your many gifts.
– We praise you, Lord, we hope in you.
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Concluding Prayer
God our creator,
you gave us the earth to cultivate
and the sun to serve our needs.
Help us to spend this day
for your glory and our neighbor’s good.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
Oct 10, Midday Prayer for Monday of the 28th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: Page 659
All from the Psalter: Monday, Week IV, Page 1154 (Midday)
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: Page 623
All from the Psalter: Monday, Week IV, Page 1118 (Midday)
Midday Prayer (Sext) for Monday using Current Psalmody
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Help us, O Lord, to learn
the truths thy word imparts:
to study that thy laws may be
inscribed upon our hearts.
Help us, O Lord, to live
the faith which we proclaim,
that all our thoughts and words and deeds
may glorify thy name.
Help us, O Lord, to teach
the beauty of thy ways,
that yearning souls may find the Christ,
and sing aloud his praise.
Words: William Watkins Reid, Jr. © 1959; Music: Sandys, Dominica, St. Ethelwald, St. Michael, Day of Praise, Falcon Street; Meter: SM
“Help us, O Lord, to learn” performed by Choir of the Abbey School Tewkesbury is available from Amazon.com.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Lord, guide my steps according to your promise.
Psalm 119:129-136
XVII (Pe)
A meditation on God’s law
The whole law is summed up in love (Romans 13:10).
Your will is wonderful indeed;
therefore I obey it.
The unfolding of your word gives light
and teaches the simple.
I open my mouth and I sigh
as I yearn for your commands.
Turn and show me your mercy;
show justice to your friends.
Let my steps be guided by your promise;
let no evil rule me.
Redeem me from man’s oppression
and I will keep your precepts.
Let your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Tears stream from my eyes
because your law is disobeyed.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
You are just, Lord God, and righteous are your judgments. Deliver those who cry to you in their affliction; give them peace and calm to reflect on your commands.
Ant. Lord, guide my steps according to your promise.
Ant. 2 There is but one lawgiver and judge; who are you to judge your neighbor?
Psalm 82
Denunciation of evil judges
Do not attempt to judge another now; the Lord’s coming will reveal all (1 Corinthians 4:5).
God stands in the divine assembly.
In the midst of the gods he gives judgment.
“How long will you judge unjustly
and favor the cause of the wicked?
Do justice for the weak and the orphan,
defend the afflicted and the needy.
Rescue the weak and the poor;
set them free from the hand of the wicked.
Unperceiving, they grope in the darkness
and the order of the world is shaken.
I have said to you: ‘You are gods,
and all of you, sons of the Most High.’
And yet, you shall die like men,
you shall fall like any of the princes.”
Arise, O God, judge the earth,
for you rule all the nations.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
You are always true to your word, Father. Look down from heaven and put an end to our foolishness. Save us from groundless fears and help us to please you with undivided heart.
Ant. There is but one lawgiver and judge; who are you to judge your neighbor?
Ant. 3 I cried out to the Lord, and he heard me.
Psalm 120
Longing for peace
Be patient in suffering; persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12).
To the Lord in the hour of my distress
I call and he answers me.
“O Lord, save my soul from lying lips,
from the tongue of the deceitful.”
What shall he pay you in return,
O treacherous tongue?
The warrior’s arrows sharpened
and coals, red-hot, blazing.
Alas, that I abide a stranger in Meshech,
dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Long enough have I been dwelling
with those who hate peace.
I am for peace, but when I speak,
they are for fighting.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
You declared peacemakers happy, Lord Jesus, since they will be called sons of God. Give us that peace which the world cannot give so that your Church may be freed from the schemes of arrogant men, and, devoted to works of peace, go forward joyfully to meet you, the King of Peace.
Ant. I cried out to the Lord, and he heard me.
READING Wisdom 15:1, 3
You, our God, are good and true,
slow to anger, and governing all with mercy.
To know you well is complete justice,
and to know your might is the root of immortality.
Lord our God, you are tender and compassionate.
– You are patient, most merciful, and true to your word.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Father,
yours is the harvest
and yours is the vineyard:
you assign the task
and pay a wage that is just.
Help us to meet this day’s responsibilities,
and let nothing separate us from your love.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community)
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
Oct 10, Evening Prayer for Monday of the 28th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: 668
All from the Psalter: Monday, Week II, 1159
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 632
All from the Psalter: Monday, Week II, 1123
Christian Prayer:
Ordinary: 694
All from the Psalter: 942
Evening Prayer for Monday in Ordinary Time
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful,
In the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid.
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
“In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful” By: Taize
Purchase “In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful” by Taize at Amazon.com.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for his great love is without end.
Psalm 136
Easter Hymn
We praise God by recalling his marvelous deeds (Cassiodorus).
I
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods
for his love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his love endures for ever;
who alone has wrought marvelous works,
for his love endures for ever;
whose wisdom it was made the skies,
for his love endures for ever;
who fixed the earth firmly on the seas,
for his love endures for ever.
It was he who made the great lights,
for his love endures for ever;
the sun to rule in the day,
for his love endures for ever;
the moon and the stars in the night,
for his love endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Give thanks to the Lord, for his great love is without end.
Ant. 2 Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty.
II
The first-born of the Egyptians he smote,
for his love endures for ever.
He brought Israel out from their midst,
for his love endures for ever;
arm outstretched, with power in his hand,
for his love endures for ever.
He divided the Red Sea in two,
for his love endures for ever;
he made Israel pass through the midst,
for his love endures for ever;
he flung Pharaoh and his force in the sea,
for his love endures for ever.
Through the desert his people he led,
for his love endures for ever.
Nations in their greatness he struck,
for his love endures for ever.
Kings in their splendor he slew,
for his love endures for ever.
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his love endures for ever;
and Og, the king of Bashan,
for his love endures for ever.
He let Israel inherit their land,
for his love endures for ever.
On his servant their land he bestowed,
for his love endures for ever.
He remembered us in our distress,
for his love endures for ever.
And he snatched us away from our foes,
for his love endures for ever.
He gives food to all living things,
for his love endures for ever.
To the God of heaven give thanks,
for his love endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm-prayer
Almighty God, remember our lowliness and have mercy. Once you gave our fathers a foreign land to inherit. Free us today from sin and give us a share in your inheritance.
Ant. Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty.
Ant. 3 God planned in the fullness of time to restore all things in Christ.
Canticle – Ephesians 1:3-10
God our Savior
Praised be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him
before the world began
to be holy
and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed,
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous
is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out
in Christ, in the fulness of time,
to bring all things into one in him,
in the heavens and on earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. God planned in the fullness of time to restore all things in Christ.
READING 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
May the Lord increase you and make you overflow with love for one another and for all, even as our love does for you. May he strengthen your hearts, making them blameless and holy before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his holy ones.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
RESPONSORY
Accept my prayer, O Lord, which rises up to you.
– Accept my prayer, O Lord, which rises up to you.
Like burning incense in your sight,
– which rises up to you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– Accept my prayer, O Lord, which rises up to you.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. For ever will my soul proclaim the greatness of the Lord.
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. For ever will my soul proclaim the greatness of the Lord.
INTERCESSIONS
Jesus does not abandon those who hope in him; therefore, let us humbly ask him:
– Our Lord and our God, hear us.
Christ our light, brighten your Church with your splendor,
so that it may be for the nations the great sacrament of your love.
– Our Lord and our God, hear us.
Watch over the priests and ministers of your Church,
so that after they have preached to others, they themselves may remain faithful in your service.
– Our Lord and our God, hear us.
Through your blood you gave peace to the world,
turn away the sin of strife, the scourge of war.
– Our Lord and our God, hear us.
O Lord, help married couples with an abundance of your grace,
so that they may better symbolize the mystery of your Church.
– Our Lord and our God, hear us.
In your mercy forgive the sins of all the dead,
that they may live with your saints.
– Our Lord and our God, hear us.
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Concluding Prayer
Stay with us, Lord Jesus,
for evening draws near,
and be our companion on our way
to set our hearts on fire with new hope.
Help us to recognize your presence among us in the Scriptures we read,
and in the breaking of bread,
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.a
Oct 10, Night Prayer for Monday of the 28th week of Ordinary Time
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours:
Vol I, page 1175
Vol II, Page 1632
Vol III, Page 1275
Vol IV, Page 1239
Christian Prayer:
Page 1041
General instruction:
Please pray with us actively, especially by joining with us in saying antiphons and responses, most of which are indicated in this highlight.
Consider an examination of your own conscience before beginning to best make use of our time together in prayer.
Night Prayer for Monday
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Examination of conscience:
We are called to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men, in our hearts and in our minds, in our actions and inactions. To do so, it is vital that we examine our conscience daily and to ask for God’s mercy as we fall short and to ask for His strength to do better.
Lord Jesus,
you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father:
Lord, have mercy.
– Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus,
you heal the wounds of sin and division:
Christ, have mercy.
– Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus,
you intercede for us with your Father:
Lord, have mercy.
– Lord, have mercy.
HYMN
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.
The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren ’neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.
So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away:
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.
“The Day Thou Gavest” by The Choir of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral; Words: John Ellerton, 1870; Music: Clement Scholefield, 1874
“The Day Thou Gavest” by The Choir of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral is available from Amazon.com
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 O Lord, our God, unwearied is your love for us.
Psalm 86
Poor man’s prayer in trouble
Blessed be God who comforts us in all our trials (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).
Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am faithful;
save the servant who trusts in you.
You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,
for I cry to you all day long.
Give joy to your servant, O Lord,
for to you I lift up my soul.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of love to all who call.
Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my voice.
In the day of distress I will call
and surely you will reply.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
nor work to compare with yours.
All the nations shall come to adore you
and glorify your name, O Lord:
for you are great and do marvelous deeds,
you who alone are God.
Show me, Lord, your way
so that I may walk in your truth.
Guide my heart to fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart
and glorify your name for ever;
for your love to me has been great:
you have saved me from the depths of the grave.
The proud have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life;
to you they pay no heed.
But you, God of mercy and compassion,
slow to anger, O Lord,
abounding in love and truth,
turn and take pity on me.
O give your strength to your servant
and save your handmaid’s son.
Show me the sign of your favor
that my foes may see to their shame
that you console me and give me your help.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. O Lord, our God, unwearied is your love for us.
READING 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
God has destined us for acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, that all of us, whether awake or asleep, together might live with him.
RESPONSORY
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
– I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
CANTICLE OF SIMEON
Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.
Luke 2:29-32
Christ is the light of the nations and the glory of Israel
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.
Concluding Prayer
Lord,
give our bodies restful sleep
and let the work we have done today
bear fruit in eternal life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
BLESSING
May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death.
– Amen.
Antiphon or song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To you do we cry, poor banished
children of Eve, to you do we send
up our sighs, mourning and weeping
in this valley, of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us; and
after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus;
O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.
Ouch. My mom had a bone spur on her heel a few years ago, now ground off. I hope you feel better soon.
You have my prayers. Also, you are not alone. Many are experiencing similar painful situations and using these to offer it to our God for the salvation of souls. It certainly makes real the scripture about picking up our own crosses and following HIM. And, again, thanks for your commitment to this thread, Salvation!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
For: Monday, October 10, 2011
28th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial (Canada): Thanksgiving Day
From: Romans 1:1-7
Greeting
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Commentary:
1-15. These opening verses of the letter are a combination of greeting, introduc-
tion of the writer and the prologue to the entire text. The passage deals with
themes in no particular order — in line with the style of some other Pauline let-
ters, especially Romans itself.
Three matters are being covered here — Paul’s introduction of himself, and his
plans to visit Rome (vv. 1, 5, 9-15); who the immediate recipients are and their
particular situation (vv. 6-8, 11, 15); and, finally, Paul’s purpose in writing to the
faithful at Rome (outlined in his greeting — vv. 2-4, 15 and, to a lesser degree, v.
9).
1-2. The word “gospel”, which St Paul uses very often, here refers to the purpose
of his vocation: he has been designated to preach the Gospel of God. This is ob-
viously not a reference to the written Gospels; he is speaking of something com-
plex and profound, already articulated by Christ in his preaching. Jesus said of
himself that he had come to bring Good News (cf. Mt 11:15; Mk 1:14-15; Lk 4:18;
etc.), as the prophets had foretold (especially is 61:1, which Jesus quoted). “As
an evangelizer, Christ first of all proclaims a kingdom, the Kingdom of God; and
this is so important that, by comparison, everything else becomes ‘the rest’,
which is ‘given in addition’ (cf. Mt 6:33).
“As the kernel and center of this Good News, Christ proclaims salvation, this
great gift of God which is liberation from everything that oppresses man but which
is above all liberation from sin and the Evil One” (Paul VI, “Evangelii Nuntiandi”,
8 and 9).
When he was about to ascend into heaven, Jesus charged his Apostles to pro-
claim the Good News (Mk 16:15; cf. Mt 28:19-20) which was to be “the source
of all saving truth and moral discipline” (Vatican II, “Dei Verbum”, 7). For the Apo-
stles this Good News was nothing more or less than Jesus Christ and his work
of salvation. That is why the Gospel (which the Church is given to hand on to all
generations) is centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as passed on
to us by the Apostles. “The promises of the New Alliance in Jesus Christ, the
teaching of the Lord and the Apostles, the Word of life, the sources of grace and
of God’s loving kindness, the path of salvation — all these things have been entrus-
ted to her. It is the content of the Gospel, and therefore of evangelization” (”Evan-
gelii Nuntiandi”, 15). Thus we can say with St Thomas Aquinas (cf. “Summa Theo-
logiae”, I-II, q. 108, a.1; “Commentary on Rom.” 1, 1) that the core of the Gospel
has to do with uniting men and God, a union which takes a perfect form in Christ
but an imperfect one in us. The superiority of the Gospel over the Old Law con-
sists in the grace of the Holy Spirit, which Christ confers on us. Therefore, the
Gospel, to which the Apostles dedicated themselves, is, at one and the same
time, a series of truths revealed by our Lord, the saving power of grace and the
Church-in-action.
1. In addressing the Christians at Rome the Apostle uses, of his two names —
Saul and Paul — the one he has used since his first missionary journey (cf. Acts
13:9), a Roman name indicating his Roman citizenship (cf. Acts 16:37; 22:25-28).
It was in fact quite common for Jews to use two names — a national name, He-
brew or Aramaic, and another name, Greek or Latin, for dealings with people from
other countries in the Empire. We find a number of examples of this in the New
Testament — John-Mark, Symeon-Niger (Acts 13:1), Tabitha-Dorcas (Acts 9:36),
et cetera.
Paul, who had been born a Roman citizen, was deeply conscious of his Jewish
roots. He was of the tribe of Benjamin (Rom 11:1; Phil 3:5) and bore the name of
one of the most famous members of that tribe — King Saul, son of Kish (Acts 13:
21). He was well able to show his pride in his Jewish descent (cf. 2 Cor 11:22;
Gal 1:13-14) yet was ready to become all things to all men in order to save even
some (cf. 1 Cor 9:22).
St Paul wants to speak about Christ and his saving Gospel, but he cannot avoid
making reference to himself and the mission entrusted to him; this he does by
using three words which are full of meaning: he is a “servant” of Jesus Christ,
called by God to be his “apostle” (envoy), “set apart” or designated by God to
preach the Gospel. These three words tell the whole story of his vocation, and
each of them encapsulates something of the mystery which Paul will expound in
his epistle — the mercy of God, who saves men, justifies them, sanctifies them
and sends them out.
“Servant”: this title, also used by St James (Jas 1:1), St Peter (2 Pet 1:1) and St
Jude (Jud 1), comes from the Old Testament. There the great prophets and guides
of the chosen people described themselves as “servants” of Yahweh (cf., for exam-
ple, Samuel: 1 Sam 3:9f; Abraham: Ps 104:6; David: 2 Sam 24:10; Moses, Aaron,
Solomon, etc.), and the entire people of Israel is called the “servant” of God (Is 49:
3); but most prominently there is the Messiah, the “Servant” of God to the extent
of actually giving his life (Is 41:9; 42:1; 49:6; 53:11). In the world of the Hebrew
religion “servant of God” is the equivalent of “worshipper of God”, one who offers
religious worship: this notion of servant did not carry the overtones of inhuman
debasement that it had in Greco-Roman culture. When St Paul says that he is
a “servant” (or “slave”) of Jesus Christ he is implicitly saying that he renders him
religious adoration.
“Apostle”: this word designates preachers of the Gospel, particularly the twelve
chosen disciples of Jesus (cf. Mt 10:24 and Mk 3:16-19) it was quite logically ap-
plied to Matthias when he became one of the Twelve (Acts 1:25). Christ himself
designated Paul an apostle when he appeared to him on the road to Damascus
(Acts 26:16-18; Gal 1:15-16), called him to the faith and charged him with his
mission to preach. By describing himself as “called to be an apostle”, St Paul is
saying that he is on an equal footing with the Twelve — for example, Peter, James
and John, whom he calls “pillars” of the Church (Gal 2:9) — since he received his
calling from Christ himself, as had been the case with the other Apostles (cf.
Acts 9:3-18), and not from the leaders of the community of Antioch (Acts 13:2-3).
“Set apart”: this refers to the mission entrusted to St Paul of preaching the Gos-
pel to the Gentiles. Possibly it also refers to Paul’s place in God’s eternal plan;
in this sense he can say that he was “set apart” ever since he was in his mo-
ther’s womb (Gal 1:15; cf. Jer 1:5; Is 49:1).
St John Chrysostom comments on this verse as follows: “If Paul constantly re-
calls his vocation it is in order to show his gratitude. This gift, which he did not
solicit, took him by surprise; he simply obeyed and followed the divine inspiration.
As regards the faithful, they too, as he himself says, have been called to holiness”
(”Hom. on Rom”, 1).
3-4. Scholars are now confident that in Rom 1:3-4 St Paul is quoting from a Chris-
tological formula or hymn (like that in I Tim 3:16 or Phil 2:6-11) — probably used in
the very earliest Christian liturgy. In these two verses St Paul offers, as it were, a
summary of Christology: Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, is the Son sent by
his Father God (v. 3). From all eternity he is God, equal to the Father, and in the
fullness of time he has taken up a human nature which was initially capable of ex-
periencing pain (v. 3) and was later glorified (v. 4).
The Incarnation did not involve any change, as far as the Word was concerned,
either in his divine nature (which he did not shed and which did not alter) or in his
being a Person distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit. However, by the Incar-
nation he assumed a human nature, being born of a Virgin (cf. Lk 1:27, 35): and
so the Son of God became the Son of David, of the lineage of David. The phrase
“according to the flesh” actually emphasizes the lowliness which the Incarnation
implied — fragility, suffering, self-emptying, humiliation (cf. Jn 1:14 and note; Phil
2:7).
During Christ’s life on earth prior to his Resurrection, although it was united to
the Word, his human nature, especially his body, was not fully glorified. More-
over, although it is true that during that period of his life he showed his divinity by
his miracles (cf. In 2:11) and by words confirmed by those miracles (cf. Jn 10:37
ff), it is also true that his human nature was to the forefront most of the time. After
the Resurrection, his human body and soul were fully glorified and therefore from
then on his divine nature was the more apparent. This real change which took
place in Christ’s human nature when he rose from the dead, and the fact that his
divinity became more manifest and he was more easily recognized to be God,
are captured in what St Paul says here in v. 4.
The words “according to the Spirit of holiness” can refer both to Christ’s divine na-
ture (in the same way as “according to the flesh” refers to his human nature) and
to the action of the Holy Spirit, whose effects were more easily seen after the
Resurrection, especially from Pentecost onwards (cf. Jn 7:39 and note on same).
5. Here St Paul refers to the mission given him by God the Father through Jesus
Christ at the time of his conversion (cf. Acts 9:15) and which he mentions explicit-
ly in his letter to the Galatians (cf. Gal 2:7). Within the world-wide mission implied
in being an apostle called by Christ himself, St Paul was given a special mission
of his own — to be the Apostle of the Gentiles; he mentions this mission at the
beginning of this letter to show why he should be addressing the Christians at
Rome, a church which he had not founded.
The purpose and effect of the apostolic ministry is to bring about the “obedience
of faith”: when a person believes, he submits his mind and will to God’s authority,
freely accepting the truths which God proposes. Apropos of this obedience proper
to faith the Second Vatican Council says: “’The obedience of faith’ (Rom 16:26; cf.
Rom 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) must be given to God as he reveals himself. By faith man
freely commits his entire self to God, making ‘the full submission of his intellect
and will to God who reveals’ (Vatican I, “Dei Filius”, chap. 3) and willingly assen-
ting to the Revelation given by him. Before this faith can be exercised, man must
have the grace of God to move and assist him; he must have the interior help of
the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and converts it to God, who opens the eyes
of the mind and ‘makes it easy for all to accept and believe the truth’ (Second
Council of Orange III, “De Gratia”, can. 7; “Dei Filius, ibid.”)” (Vatican II, “Dei
Verbum”, 5).
7. “Called to be saints”: literally “called saints”. This is not just a way of spea-
king: St Paul really is saying that Christians are “called” in the same kind of way
as the Israelites were so open called through Moses (Num 10:14). In the Chris-
tians’ case, the calling is to form the new people of God, one of whose characte-
ristic features is holiness. Basing itself on this and other Pauline texts, the Se-
cond Vatican Council has this to say: “As Israel according to the flesh which
wandered in the desert was already called the Church of God (cf. 2 Ezra 13:1;
cf. Num 20:4; Deut 23:1 ff), so too, the new Israel, which advances in this pre-
sent era in search of a future and permanent city (cf. Heb 13:14), is called also
the Church of Christ (cf. Mt. 16:18) [...]. The followers of Christ, called by God
not in virtue of their works but by his design and grace, and justified in the Lord
Jesus, have been made sons of God in the baptism of faith and partakers of the
divine nature, and so are truly sanctified” (”Lumen Gentium”, 9 and 40).
This is in fact the basis of the “universal call to holiness”. All Christians, by vir-
tue of their Baptism, should live in line with what that means: they are called to
be saints and their whole life should be a pursuit of holiness: “In baptism, our
Father God has taken possession of our lives, has made us share in the life of
Christ, and has given us the Holy Spirit” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By,
128). “We are deeply moved, and our hearts profoundly shaken, when we listen
attentively to that cry of St Paul: ‘This is the will of God, your sanctification’ (1
Thess 4:3). Today, once again, I set myself this goal and I also remind you and
all mankind: this is God’s Will for us, that we be saints” (St. J. Escriva, “Friends
of God”, 294).
The formula “grace and peace” seems to be St Paul’s own: it is a combination of
the usual Greek greeting at the start of letters and the Hebrew shalom (peace).
The Apostle uses this double greeting very often (cf., for example, 1 Cor 1:3 2 Cor
1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; etc). It is a Christian greeting, referring to the gifts the Holy
Spirit brings us. Jewish and pagan greetings wished people material prosperity or
good fortune; the Apostle’s are wishes for something higher — divine benevolence,
which comes in the form of the gift of sanctifying grace and the virtues and gifts
of the Holy Spirit, and interior peace, which derives from reconciliation with God
brought about by Christ. These gifts, according to the Apostle, come to us from
God our Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Lord, who is equal to the Father. Thus
we see Christian life as being inserted in the intimate life of the Blessed Trinity,
for “grace and peace” came from the goodness and mercy of God, by way of the
Incarnation of the Word and the Redemption wrought by him.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
For: Monday, October 10, 2011
28th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial (Canada): Thanksgiving Day
From: Luke 11:29-32
The Sign of Jonah
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Commentary:
29-32. Jonah was the prophet who led the Ninevites to do penance: his actions
and preaching they saw as signifying that God had sent him (cf. note on Mat-
thew 12:41-42).
[The note on Matthew 12:41-42 states:
41-42. Nineveh was a city in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) to which the prophet Jo-
nah was sent. The Ninevites did penance (John 3:6-9) because they recognized
the prophet and accepted his message; whereas Jerusalem does not wish to re-
cognize Jesus, of whom Jonah was merely a figure. The queen of the South was
the queen of Sheba in southwestern Arabia, who visited Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-
10) and was in awe of the wisdom with which God had endowed the King of Is-
rael. Jesus is also prefigured in Solomon, whom Jewish tradition saw as the epi-
tome of the wise man. Jesus’ reproach is accentuated by the example of pagan
converts, and gives us a glimpse of the universal scope of Christianity, which will
take root among the Gentiles.
There is a certain irony in what Jesus says about “something greater” than Jonah
or Solomon having come: really, He is infinitely greater, but Jesus prefers to tone
down the difference between Himself and any figure, no matter how important, in
the Old Testament.]
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
I was wondering if they couldn’t do something like that on the bone spurs. But would they grow back?
Thanks kelly and mark.
I just had to get my feet up and into bed last night.
Do the bone spurs grow back?
| First reading | Romans 1:1-7 © |
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| Psalm | Psalm 97:1-4 |
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| Gospel | Luke 11:29-32 © |
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